Friday, November 19, 2010

The Convention On the Rights of the Child

This United Nations treaty is a treaty that I have devoted much time to; that I feel passionately about.
The primary concern is government sovereignty overruling parental sovereignty. As Elder Hafen states, "The CRC . . . confuses an understandable fear of state paternalism with an unwarranted fear of parental paternalism" (p. 451).
I have spent so so many hours studying this subject and I think the best unbiased article is the one here: https://www.hsdl.org/?search&collection=limited&fct&so=date&submitted=Search&tabsection=CRS+Reports&offset=0&creatormore=true&creator=Blanchfield,+Luisa It is the report to congress.
I just found out today that an organization ParentalRights.org is trying to pass an amendment to protect parents' rights --- and there are 31 senators against passing the CRC and quite a few in favor of this amendment!
It sounds like the ideas being promoted right now fit very well with the Proclamation on the family: "Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations."

I am really interested to learn more about the amendment and to see if I agree with it.
Having said all that, I do have one other comment: I get so frustrated that people have to take one radical position or another. There are just statements like "this will take away ALL parent's rights!!!!" when really we don't know the effect the CRC will have, but there will probably be at least one parental right retained. Anyway, after studying law --- just say it as it is!
They are releasing a documentary tomorrow about children and in favor of parental rights and opposing the CRC.